Smithtown, NY Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- All LPG uses, containers and piping
- Occupied buildings
- No LPG container inside, on roof or balcony
- Outdoor storage setback
- At least 25 feet from any building
- Small cylinder exception
- Up to 200 lbs aggregate, 2.5-lb cylinders
- Installation permit
- Required from Dept. of Public Safety
- Operating permit
- Annual permit from Fire Prevention Division
- First offense penalty
- Up to $2,500 fine or 60 days
Summary
Smithtown's Fire Prevention code regulates where liquefied petroleum gas containers can be kept, barring propane tanks from inside, on the roof or on the balcony of any occupied building. Bulk and cylinder storage must sit at least 25 feet from any building in a vented, fenced enclosure, and installing, filling or transporting LPG requires a permit from the Fire Prevention Division.
No container of LPG, either in use or in storage, shall be permitted inside or on the roof or balcony of any occupied building or in or on any construction attached to an occupied building, except as permitted in Subsections F and G below. ... The storage of containers must be outside the building, at least 25 feet from any building or structure. Storage is to be in either a noncombustible top- and bottom-vented structure or surrounded by a substantial metal fence enclosure. Such enclosure is to be adequately secured against access by unauthorized persons.
Full Breakdown
Smithtown Code § 164-103 applies its liquefied petroleum gas article to all uses of LPG and to the installation of piping, containers and equipment. Section 164-106E(1) flatly bars any LPG container, whether in use or in storage, from being kept inside, on the roof or on the balcony of an occupied building, or in any construction attached to one, unless one of two narrow exceptions in Subsections F or G applies. Subsection F allows small DOT-rated cylinders of up to two and a half pounds' water capacity, used with self-contained hand torches, to be stored or displayed in a building open to the public up to a 200-pound aggregate limit.
Section 164-106E(3) sets the baseline outdoor rule for everything else: containers must be stored outside the building, at least 25 feet from any building or structure, inside either a noncombustible top- and bottom-vented structure or a substantial metal fence enclosure secured against unauthorized access. Before any fixed LPG system goes in, § 164-104A requires the owner to submit a site plan to the Fire Prevention Division showing container and vaporizer locations and capacities, and § 164-104A(2) requires a separate installation permit from the Department of Public Safety.
Section 164-107 requires anyone who installs, stores, sells, resells or transfers propane to hold an annual Fire Prevention Division permit, and § 164-105B makes it illegal to fill any LPG container not designed for LPG.
Violations & Fines
LPG violations fall under Chapter 164's general penalty at § 164-167A: a fine of up to $2,500 or up to 60 days in jail, or both, for a first offense, and up to $5,000 or 90 days for a second or later offense, with each day of noncompliance a separate violation. The Fire Prevention Division can also revoke or refuse to renew an operator's annual LPG permit under § 164-107.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a propane tank on my balcony in Smithtown?
How far from my house does a propane tank have to sit?
Do I need a permit to install a propane tank?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Smithtown
New York rules heatmap·Compare Smithtown to another location·View the New York fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Propane Storage in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Suffolk County handle propane storage.